The City of Alexandria is working to motivate the community to take actions that make our City more sustainable.  This includes educational opportunities to increase awareness of environmental challenges and providing recommendations for adoptable daily sustainable practices for residents, businesses, and City staff. 

SUSTAINABILITY PLEDGE

Concerned about the Climate Emergency? Interested in learning how you can do your part to protect the environment?  The Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted a resolution declaring a climate emergency, recognizing that climate change poses a threat to everyone in Alexandria and around the world. Take the Sustainability Pledge (English, Spanish) now and show your part in protecting our environment.  

Looking for sustainable action ideas to get you started? Here are a few to consider:

• Conserve energy by using energy-efficient LEDs, by turning off the lights.
• Conserve energy by turning off electronics when not in use, such as shutting down computers at the end of each workday/ after use, and unplugging electrical equipment (TV, radio, coffee maker, etc) when not in use.
• Perform an energy audit on your home or business.
• Heat and cool wisely by using a programmable thermostat.
• Calculate your carbon footprint at www.carbonfootprint.com.
• Purchase a fuel-efficient car and drive less.
• Buy products with the EPA “Energy Star” label.
• Invest in solar panels as part of Solarize Alexandria.
• Commit to using transit, carpooling, biking, or walking more often, when traveling locally.
• Learn and follow Alexandria’s recycling guidelines to Recycle Right.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Reduce food waste by buying the amount needed, buying locally, avoiding excessive packaging, and reducing trash by using reusable options.  Donate and reuse before buying new items to reduce trash.
• Reduce water use by fixing leaks, taking shorter showers, installing low-flow fixtures, and when cleaning dishes. Purchase products with the EPA “Water Sense” label.
• Plant a tree or shrub, use a rain barrel, convert a portion of lawn to conservation landscaping with native plants, and/or add an indoor plant to improve air quality.
• Pick up litter on the ground.
• Pick up after pets. 
• Share information about sustainability with others.

You can email your signed Sustainability Pledge to Eco-CityAlexandria@alexandriava.gov 

CHECKOUT A THERMAL CAMERA AT ALEXANDRIA LIBRARIES

Alexandria libraries provide residents with the opportunity to check out Thermal Camera Kits, which help residents identify hot and cold spots in one's home where energy savings opportunities may be possible. Alexandria Library customers can reserve a camera just like a book through the library catalog, and it will be shipped to your local library branch for pick up. Learn more about how to use the thermal camera.

RESOURCES FOR YOUTH

Download the field guide (114 pages) and the field journal (114 pages), both developed by (used with permission from) Fairfax County, Virginia. The field guide includes educational information on plants and animals and the field journal includes activities to help youth learn more about the environment and space for their unique observations. Please contact the Watershed Education and Outreach section at watersheds@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-5500, TTY 711 for more information.

CLIMATE RESILIENCE HUB

Climate Resilience Hubs are community institutions that help educate residents about extreme weather preparedness and other impacts of climate change.

In 2020, Alexandria Library applied for and was awarded the Resilient Communities: Libraries Respond to Climate Change grant, a pilot program of the American Library Association. Through the grant, Alexandria Library joined the CREW Hub Network.

As a Hub, Alexandria Library dedicates materials, events, and space to talk about our environmental impact, what we can do, and ways to support one another. Library buildings will continue to be a place for people to seek relief from extreme weather.

Alexandria Library's Climate Resilience Hub is located at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch, 717 Queen St. Alexandria, VA 22314.

See upcoming sustainability programming hosted by the Alexandria Library on their events page. 

ENERGY MASTERS

Energy Masters is an award-winning program that conserves energy and water, helps our community’s neediest families reduce their utility expenses, provides conservation education to encourage behavior change, and benefits our planet by reducing carbon emissions. Energy Masters volunteers, after receiving specialized training, deliver hands-on conservation upgrades and community education in affordable housing communities in Northern Virginia. The City of Alexandria and Arlington County collaborate on this effort.